Public Hearing now opened 7:34 PM
City CHIP Housing Grant Schedule FY 2013 (Regional Planning – Ms. Evie Cummings) (2nd Public Hearing)
One of the changes is in the administration line item and the tenant base assistance. Because we have to go and have inspection services, some of the activities, we need to spend such as environmental reviews; we are allowed to pay them out of administration. I haven’t accounted enough money in there to cover them properly.
Rental Rehab for 100,000.00
Tenant Based Rental Assistance for 145,000
Home Repair for 94,000 – would cover 9 home repair services.
New Construction with Habitat for 22,000
Then Administration is 39,000, Met Housing, Regional Planning and inspection services. The maximum would be 400,000. This is a little less than what we had in the past; the state has reduced money lowering the max to hope to spread the projects out. This is the budget we have for this grant.
Mr. Ratliff asked if there is a reason why you took the 5000 from the Rental Assistance. Mrs. Cummings said there are hard and soft costs that we had to calculate, tweak the other two, construction based. I don’t want to change the number of units that we do. I hit these artificial maximums. In the end, we all can’t work for free, there were expenses, I was not calculating in. Tenant based was more flexible. This would still be an increase, it was more flexible, and it didn’t have more strict thresholds.
Public Hearing now closed @ 7:37 pm.

NEW BUSINESS:

ORDINANCE 2013-10:
ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A MODERATE AND LOW INCOME HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE OF OHIO COMMUNITY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP), TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND THE MARION CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMISSION TO APPLY FOR, ADMINISTER THE TOTAL GRANT, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ALSO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE MARION METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER THE TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE COMPONENTS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY, as amended

ORDINANCE 2013-11:
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY DIRECTOR TO DISPOSE OF 2 VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY UTILIZED BY THE STREETS DEPARTMENT, AND 1 VEHICLE UTILIZED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DECLARING THEY ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR ANY PUBLIC PURPOSE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Mr. Cumston stated that this came out of Finance with a 2-0 for approval, this Auction is April 13, I move to suspend, Mr. Smith 2nd. Roll call: Ayes all, motion carried.
Mr. Cumston moved to adopt, Mr. Ratliff 2nd. Roll call: Ayes all, motion carried. ORDINANCE 2013-11 IS ADOPTED

ORDINANCE 2013-12:
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO A RENEWAL AGREEMENT WITH VOLUNTEER ENERGY SERVICES IN REGARD TO THE CITY OF MARION NATURAL GAS AGGREGATION PROGRAM AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Mr. Cumston stated that this came out of Finance with a 2-0 for approval, this will go with Volunteer Energy, this program in the past has been very successful, I move to suspend, Mr. Osborn 2nd. Roll call: Ayes all, motion carried.
Mr. Cumston moved to adopt, Mr. Smith 2nd. Roll call: Ayes all, motion carried. ORDINANCE 2013-12 IS ADOPTED

MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA:

Mr. Josh Daniels spoke about the crime stats in Marion, Ohio. The high rate of burglary. 67 officers in 2002 compared to 40 now. He thanked the constituents for the voting on the income tax increase, to put more officers on the street. He thanks the people for reporting the crimes. He thanked the police dept. for the recent busts. We need to continually endure. We need to bring another officer back. There is no financially reason why we are not bringing them back. The money is there.
Mr. Ratliff asked if the money is really there. Mr. Daniels said I think everyone knows how much we collected. We haven’t even received the bulk of the revenue for the first quarter. Mr. Ratliff was questioning the administration. If the numbers are there, is there a reason for have not or cannot. Mayor Schertzer said he will meet with the Auditor again. I have to check to see if the money is there. We put forth a plan to hire 2 in the first plan, 2 in the 2nd, and 2 in the 3rd and 1 in the last. We have a contract to deal with pay off’s. I’ve seen the same stats that Mr. Daniels has. 19.3 million in 2008 to a 15.7 this year. Income tax that was passed last year, will not replace all of that revenue that we received. I have asked the pastors and the churches in this community to continue to fight. Police Dept and the enforcement side need more officers. The Chief has moved more men into Marmet. I have to show real dollars for this to happen. Mr. Osborn asked to give us an update on each quarter. Mayor Schertzer said we brought two back in January. 41,000.00 is covering the expense for the two that came in. That’s pretty much what you have. Mayor Schertzer said we need 7700 per officer per month. The goal is to get back officers ASAP in the 2nd quarter. There is a time frame for the bargaining unit. We have to send the letter out by registered mail, and make a decision whether or not he comes back. 14 days, then we go to the next person. Mr. Osborn said about 42,000. Mr. Daniels said there had been no deductions in the ¼% income tax. Where did that money come from? Chief said the ¼%. Mr. Daniels said there is no money taken out of there. Chief Bell said he doesn’t know why it’s not taken out.
Mr. Ratliff said the end of the 1st quarter is the end of March. If we have to allow 14 days, this is the time we are doing that. It’s already in the works? Mr. Robbins said yes. Mr. Thomas said we are never going back to 67 officers, because of the local funding being cut since 2008. We need to get the Police officers back, the fire dept back and the street people back. Every million dollars of pay roll we generate, that’s 20 thousand dollars of income tax. Mr. Daniels said this is to sharpen perception, does anyone think that drugs is not Marion’s problem today. I want to give people the surety that Council stands behind you, the police officers are there. Let’s keep those fellows motivated and get them back. Mr. Ratliff spoke about Governor Kasich and Columbus – they are robbing everyone. They are sitting on a mountain of money – their rainy day fund. I’m sick of it. It has to be fixed. Columbus and your Governor are robbing you.